World

Ally of Ukraine's jailed Tymoshenko elected parliament speaker

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers elected a close ally of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to the powerful post of parliament speaker on Saturday, replacing a loyalist of embattled President Viktor Yanukovich.

Oleksander Turchynov is a senior member of Tymoshenko's Fatherland party. He was elected by 288 votes in the 450-seat parliament.